Episode 7: Janis Joplin

The ‘Sixties was when we, in the States, hit our peak as an organic cultural entity, and any record of it must include Janis Joplin. I kick myself in the shin every Wednesday to remind myself to perform a random act of kindness before the week is out in gratitude for attending not one but two Janis Joplin concerts.

And not any two, but the one on a bill with The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (avec Elvin Bishop and David Sanborn) and then the one in Harvard Stadium, which was her last. There has been truckloads of ink used in argument over whether Ms. Joplin was impeded by Big Brother and the Holding Co., but enhanced by the Full Tilt Boogie Band, or vice versa. That misses the point – all that mattered was that the band didn’t ruin it and neither of those outfits did.

in the audience with Mama Cass

It took a great lady just to get from Texas to San Francisco, where she became the great broad with the great voice that did us all so much good. There are plenty of clips of Janis Joplin available to stream; this one is especially good because the wonderful Mama Cass Elliott is watching along with us and we see her reaction at the end of the song.